SOLDIER ATHLETES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 46, 18 November 1919, Page 9

SOLDIER ATHLETES

CIVIC RECEPTION TO RETURNED MEN j THE SPORTING SPIRIT ; Tho important part that athletics play m the moulding o! soldiers was the point made by several speakers at a reception tendered in tho City Council Chamber at a p.m. yesterday to four prominent .New Zealand athletes, all nitmbers of tho New Zealand Forces, who returned that day. There was a lurjjo and representative, pitheriug of luenibeM of all branches of athletics, and tho .Mayor (Mr. J. J\ J jH ke, proriicletl. The soldiers honoureil were. Captain Jj'ml Ford, uf Ureyuioutn, and liergeants H. ' h. Wilson anil J. Wilton, ot Wellington, ,",iid itargi-ntit J. Lindsay, of Canterbury. The throe- al Metes uistiiiffuished themselves l»th in Jiugland and France, winning many events under the banner i of No»' Zealand, including several championships. WiU-ou holds the English 120 yds. hurdles, while Lindsay won ono of the International championships at the Jiiter-Allied athletic nicctimj at Paris. Wilton, who when ho left io'r the front was .New Zealand's llOvds. champion, also shone to-great iidvaiiUyo in the athletic world overseas. Giplain Hall managed tne team at iU inception, and' was closely identified with it through- . out its -.whole career. u'\ e '' l; ! vi;, ' '" cspressins Hie gratitude lelt by the people of Wellington in particular and the dominion in general at the return of tiio soldier-athletes, dwelt upon the fact that all the Uritidi battles had been won on the fields of sport. J.ne fame thing applied to JXew Zealand and Australia, liy their record abroan they had helped to instil into the minds oi their compatriots of tho battlefield a great appreciation of the New Zealand spirit. Touching reference nvas made by the Mayor to tlio men who had paid the (jremt sacrifice, and whose, memory would for ever act as an incentive to tho cominj generations. Sidu by sido with their athletic record, th'e guests of honour hml doue thair little bit towards defending tho Empire on (he field of battle. The high estesm in which the New Zealand treops were universally held abroad was enlarged upon by tho Mayor, who said that their deeds and chivalry would no down in history as a)i imperishable record. The quartet of athletes present that day deserved tho thanks of the community for so upholding the banner of New Zealand on tho field.nf athletics. Councillor L. .M'Kenzio added some words of welcome. r Mr. P.. Acesinjr, on behalf of the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association, also extended his congratulations, and in passing referred to the kinpntablo death in iiction of the New Zealand tennis champion, Anthony Wilding. .Mr. Sliallcrass referred to the necessity of promoting public feeling in all I our national games. The same effect of ' I military trainins could be obtained by tho promotion of iv national grounding in athletics. We could not do better for our national defence than lo instil an activo love of true snort in the youth.of the community. Upturning thanks on his own and his comrades' behalf, Captain Ford mentioned that on every hand in Entrland unbounded enthusiasm was displayed by the public, with regard io 'athletics wherever New Zealandors weve concerned. Coneorninij the record of tho New Zealand soldier-athletw, the captain instanced that at one English meeting alone they won every event on lln> programme. New Zea'laiubrs had had a very gond reception wherever they com-' peted. and tln-y earned tho name of being pond 'sports and tood losers. In. eidentally Captain Ford lamented the great growth of 'professionalism in all forms nf sport, in Kiurlaml. and wont on to say Hint as a result of th» prowess of her snlrticKifiilcta on infemilional fields Nov.- Zealaii'l was !:no\vn to all four corners uf vim narlh. Talrimj pverythiii" into consideration the N.Z.E.F. athletes had done rpimirkably well. Sprjsennfcs Wilson.'Wilton and Liiulfnv also spoke in iipknowlpdgment. and tho gathering dispersed with cheers.